Rotatable agitator and scraper



gwmntoc Glenn JZ. Harris;

G. A. HARRIS ROTATABLE AGITATOR AND SCRAPER Filed May 25. 1927 NM v D Jan. 8, 1929.

G. A. HARRIS ROTATABLE AGITATOR AND SCRAPER Jan. 8, 1929. 1,698,402

Filed May 25, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Glam: fl. Harris,"

Jan. 8, 1929., 1,698,402 G. A. HARRIS ROTATABLE 'AGITATOR AND SCRAPER Filed May 25, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 3.51.. v

, I so 61 93 2 I HIIIII Zlwumtoc Claim JZ. flarrz's,

Patented Jan. 8,

UNITED STATES GLENN A. HARRIS, or onanrsnn, rnnnsrnvn'mn.

ROTATABLE AGITATO R AND 'SCBAPER.

Application filed my 25, 1927. Serial No. 194,004.

My invention relates to a device to be installed upon or within a can of paint or the like, to properly stir or mix the contents of the same.

In accordance with my invention, I provide a mixing or stirring element, adapted to be turned or rotated, and which is collapsible, so that it may he conveniently inserted within the can. The device may also be partly or wholly eollapsed, within the can, to assume a position out of the way, when it is desired to dip a paint brush into the can. The device may thus'be applied to a can of paint and Will not interfere with the insertion of the brush into the can, during the ordinary painting operation. The device also embodies a cover member, carrying or supporting the rotatable stirring element or agitator. This cover member is preferably provided with a spout so that after the paint has been thoroughly stirred or mixed in the can, it maybe poured or transferred into another can, without liability of spilling the paint. The cover member'is so constructed that it is adapted to have engagement with strainer element or elements, so that paint from a partly used can ofpaint may be poured back into the can carrying the stirrer oragitator andallgrit or solid material will "be removed from the paint. The device is adapted to be applied to the standard p aint can, upon the market, and may be made in anysuitable size, depending upon the size olithe cantor which it is tobe used.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In theacoomp'anying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a'de'vice embodying my invention, showing the same applied to a paint can, with the cover member opened,

Figure 2 1s a member closed,

similar View with the cover Figure 3 is a central vertical section through the device,

Figure 8 is a plan view of the device with the cover member opened, and a strainer arranged therein, p

, Flgure 9 IS a side elevation of the strainer, Figure 10 is a plan view of a modified form of strainer, V

Figure 11 is and,

Figure 12 is a plan view of a closure element;

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose an edge elevation of the same,

- of illustration, is shown, a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 15 desig na' a paint an, of the standard type, now upon the market. This can 'is provided at top with the usual inwardly projecting flange orri'b 16. The can 15 may be of any selected size, such as a gallon, quart, pint or half 'pfl'nt.

My stirring or agitating device elnbodiesa cover member, including continuous an'nw lar body portion 17, of "the psoper size to en snuglyove-r'th'e top oft 'e can 15, While itisp'referred to construct the annular body portion 1'? of the proper size to lit the can,

yet, I contemplate having the member 17 circumterentially adjustable. The annular body portion is provided at its upper edge with an inwardly projecting horizontal "flange 18, arranged above and overlap in the flange 16. A packing element or washer 19, formed of rubber orthe like, is cemented or otherwise suitably attached to the bottom of the flange 181,1andis arranged to engage with thefiange 16 of the "can, for effecting an air-tight joint. Rigidly attached to the horizontal flange 18 of the cover member is an upwardly project-- ing spout 20, preferably formed inte ral therewith. This spout extends for less tian one-halfof the circumference o'ithe flange 18. The spout is employed in pouring the con tents of the can 15, into] another can, as will be more fully explained.

The numeral 21 designates a cover element or plate, included in the cover member. This cover element or plate is segmental and covers more than one-half of the area of the flange 18. The segmental cover element is fiat and is pivoted at one end, by means of a pivot element .22 with the flange 18. The cover element is, therefore, adapted to swing horizontalJ-ly in sliding contact with the top of the flange 18. The-segmental cover element 21 is provided upon its inner straight edge, with a vertical fla'nge'23, preferably integral therewith, and this vertical flange has {one end thereof positioned adjacent to and inwardly of the spout orfiange 20,'while its opposite end is provided with a resilient catch '24, to engage over a head 25, formed upon the opposite end of the spout 20. The flange 23,

, therefore, constitutes the. inner side of the spout, as shown. The fiat segmental cover element 21 is provided with adown-turned flange 26 having a plurality of horizontal, slots 27, which are; adapted to receive hori zontal stationary bolts 28, rigidly attached to the annular body portion 17. 1 These bolts have t-heiredges beveled at 29, so that they will readily enter the slots 27, upon the horir-sontal movementiof the segmental cover ele inent 21. Thebolts and slotted flange serveas means'to lock the segmental cover element 21 to the annular body portion 17,"

against vertical movement, thus holding these parts in close relation, for effecting a substantially air-tight joint. i

The device embodies a stirring or agitating member,comprising a verticalrotatable shaft 30, projecting into the can, and having itsupper portion extending eXt-eriorly of the cover In-en ber'and rotatablewithinan opening 31 *formedin a bracket 32, carried by the top edge of the flange 23. The shaft is also rotatable within an opening 33, formed in the segmental cover element 21. The shaft30 carries a stop collar 34, rigidlydetachably attached thereto. The upper end 35 of theshaft 30 is formed polygonal in cross section for detachable engagement with a crank orhandle 36 to turn the shaft.

a. The agitating member embodies anagitat- 'ing element or plate 37, which may be formed of metalor the, like, andstamped to provide a longitudinal strip 38,and radial arms 39.

These arms are provided at theirinner ends withsleeves or hubs 40, which are rigidly attached to the shaft 30, for rotation therewith.

The hubs 40 are provided upontheir sides remote from the arms39 with generally radialshifting flanges 4l, rigidly secured there- I to. Theseshifting flanges are thusarranged upon the leadingsides of the hubs or sleeves 40." The agitating member further embodies an agitating element 42, formed of metal or the like, stamped toprovide outer and inner longitudinal strips 43 and 44, connected by radial portions 45. Secured to the longitudinal strips 44 and alternately arranged upon theshaft 30, with respect to the hubs 40, are knuckles 46, pivoted upon this shaft.

The strip 44 is arranged in advance of the is thus seen that when theshaft 30 is turned shifting elements orfianges 41, as shown. It

clockwise, that the shifting elements 41 will engage with the agitating element 42, holding the same at-a straight angle with relation to the mixingelement 37, and causing the mixing element 42 to rotate therewith.

ever,.when the shaft 31 is shifted laterally, in

the direction of'the side ofthe can, Figures4 like.

substitutin and 7, the nixingmember maybe partly col- 9 The agitating element 37 embodies a flexi ble member-or wiper 47, formed of rubber or the like, which is attached'to the strip 38 and upper and lower arms 39, by rivets 48 or the r The wiper 47 is preferably formed of rubber, fabric or any other suitablematerial "and extends radially beyond the strip 38, and

above and below it/ The agitating element 42 embodies a wiper 49, formed-of flexible material, such'as rubber, fabric or dislike.

and projects'radially beyond the strip.

"lhe1mmeral51 designates a segmental clof i 7 sure element or i plate, which is imperforate, and is adapted tobe inserted wlthin the spout.

This wiper 49 is attached to the strip 43 at the lower end thereof, byrivets 50,01 the like,

20, when theucover member is closed. The

closure element 51 is provided upon its straight edge with an upstanding flange 52, provided at ts upper edge withdepend'ing resilient clips 53, to engage over the flange 23.

closed segmentalcover element 21, is adapted to completely close'or cover the can 15. p

This closure element, co-operating with the L i i hen the cover member is closed, I contemstraight edge with avertical' ange 55 carry- 111g down-tu1ned iesillent clips .26, to engage over the flange 23. This strainer element'is can used when paint poured backinto the 15, from another can or thefllke. When thecover member is 111 the open position, as shownin Figure 8, I may employ I a much larger strainer element, including a segmental frame 57, adapte'dto be mserted within the spout 20, and carrying aforam1+ nous bottom 58, formed of wire. gauze or the r like. The frame 58 carries an upstanding' flange 59 to engage with the flange 23, when it is in the open position, and the flange 59 is provided with down-turned resilient clips 60, toengage over the flange-23. i

, WVhen these various elements are thus in- V sorted withln thespout 20 their free edge is adapted to be passed beneath a"braeket61,

which is rigidlymounted upon the interior of the spout 20. i

' The numeral 62 a base 63. This skeleton frame is equipped with a suitable handle 64. V

painting, by dipping the brush into the can,

designates a skeleton frame, surrounding the can,and attached to 129 1 When the device is applied to a can, usediir or when it is otherwise desired toconveuientl transport the can, from one place to anot er, such can may be equipped with the is in no sense restricted toithe usefofjthis frame. i 11" skeleton frame 62. However, the invention ween-o2 To apply the device within or upon the can, i

stir the paint, while. the wiper 47 of the ele ment 3'8 servesto'wip'e the paint from the bottom and side walls of the can, thusthoroughly mixing the deposits that usually accumulate at these points. With the cover member in place upon the can, the thoroughly mixed "paint, may be poured through the spout 20, into another can, whiclris used in painting.

he cover member prelvents'the spilling of the paint upon the floor or the like. Should 'it be desired to completely sealthe top the can 1 5-, without removing the stirri-ng'o'r agitat-ing devi-ce, the closure element ispl'aced within the bottom "of the spout 20, as explained.

When it is desired to use the can with the stirring or agitating deviceapplied thereto, for painting purposes, as by dipping the brush into the can, the segmental cover element Qlis swung to the open position, Figure 1, the agitating member being first rotated to the position shown in Figure 4, so that it will fold or collapse, upon shifting the shaft 30 laterally. The swinging of the segmental cover element 21, to the open position, greatly increases the size of the opening at the spout 20 and the rotatable agitating or mixing element is arranged adjacent to that side of the can remote from the spout, and hence out of the way. i

If itis desired to introduce paint from other cans, into the can 1 5, for proper stirring or agitation, the cover member may assume the closed position, and the strainer 54 placed Within the spout. Further, the segmental cover element 21 may be shifted to the open position, Figure 1, and the strainer element embodying the frame 57 inserted within the spout. This provides a strainer of greater capacity.

It is to be understood that the form of m invention, herewith shown and described, is to be taken as a. preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention, or the scope of the sub-joined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, a can cover member to be mounted upon the top of a can, and including a pivoted cover element adapted to be shifted laterally with relation to the can to an open position, and a mixing or agitating member oarried'by the pivoted cover element for arrange 'nt wi tln in said can, said mixing or agitating remnae'inbodyingelements which are rotatable as a unit in'on'e direction and adapt-ed to befolded when shifted laterally with the coverhelement whereby said mi her is arranged can.

or agitating me m adgircenuto one side of the top of the can and adapted to be shifted latorally with relation thereto, lt fn-lxlhg or agitating member carried by the cover member for-arran ement within said can said nrixin or agitating member embodying elements which are rotatable as a unit in one direction and are adapted to be folded when rotated in the opposite direction said mixing or agitating member when foldedbeing adapt-ed for lateral movement with the cover member to assume a position adjacent to one side of the can. I

8. In a device of the character described, a can, a can cover element mounted upon the top of the can and adapted to be shifted laterally with relation thereto, a shaft rotatably mounted upon the cover element and extending into the can, a mixing element mount-- ed upon the shaft for rotation therew1th and extending radially with relation thereto, a co-acting mixing element pivotally mounted upon the shaft and extending radially with relation thereto, and means carried by the shaft to rotate therewith and engaging one side of the second named mixing element to prevent the same from turning in one direction upon said shaft and permitting the same turning in an opposite direction upon the said shaft, the arrangement being such that the mixing elements may partake of relative folding action and when folded being adapted to be shifted laterally with the shaft to assume a position adjacent to one side of the can, the shaft being shifted laterally by the movement of the cover element.

4. In a device of the character described, a can, a can cover element mounted upon the top of the can and adapted to be shifted laterally with relation thereto, a shaft rotatably mounted upon the cover element and extending into the can and movable laterally 2-. In device of the character desor ihed-,a can, a can cover member mounted upon the tun lit)

can, a can cover element mounted upon the top of thecan and adapted to be shifted laterally with relation thereto, and a rotatable mixing device carried b y; the cover element and movable laterally with the cover element, said a device embodying a plurality oflaterally' foldable mixing elements. 7

In adevice of thelcharacterdescribed, a cover member embodyingan annularxbody ,portionto be arranged upon the top of a can and having a spout, a cover element pivotally mounted upon the annular body portion and adapted to be shifted laterally with relation to the can, and a collapsible rotatable stirring device carried by the cover element and"movable laterally with relation thereto'and when collapsed being adapted to be shifted to a p sit-ion adjacent toone side of the can.

assume a position adjacent to one side of the lllllllltww i 7 In a deviceof the character described, a cover element embodying an annular body portion to be arranged upon the top of acan and having a spout, a coverelement pivotally mountedupon the annular body portion upon one side of the spoutand carrying an upstanding flange serving to cover the openside of the spout, said cover element being shiftable laterally with relation to the can, and a rotatable collapsible mixing device carriedby the cover eleinent and adapted when collapsed to be shifted laterally With the cover element to can.

8. In'a device oi the character described, a cover member embodying an annular body portion to be arranged upon the top flange oi a paintcan or the like, a gasket arranged between the cover member and flange, a spout rigidly carried the annular body portion and projecting above the; same, a cover element pivotally connected with the annular body portion andhaving anupstandin flange to close one sideoflthe spout and also having a dependingportionprovided with slot means,

said cover element being shift-able laterally with relation to the can,'bolt meanscarried by the annular body portion to enterthe' slots, and arOt-atableagitating device carried by the pivoted cover element and shittable laterally therewith and adapted tohavea relative folding action so that when folded it may besliit'ted adjacent to one sideofthe can.

9. In a device of the character cover member embodying an annular body described, a

port-ion to be arranged upon the vtop of the can and having anupstanding spout, a cover.

element pivoted upon the annular body portion' and provided at one end with a resilient catch said cover element being shiftable'laterally with relation to; the can, ahead formed upon the end of the spout for co -action with the resilient catch, and a collapsible rotatable 

